Elastic-fluid turbine.



W. J. A. LONDON.

ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE.

APPUCATION FILED FEB. 6. 1918.

1,297,878.. Patented- Mar. 18, 1919.

Fig. I. v

Inventor; William Jfi. London His fitoor ney.

' having a rigid UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J.- A. LONDON, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TOGENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELASTIC-FLUID TURBINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Mar. 18, 1919.

Application filed February 6, 1918. Serial No. 215,573.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. A. LON- DON, asubject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Springfield, in thecounty' of Hampden, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Elastic-Fluid Turbines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to elastic fluid turbines and especiallyturbine driven sets in which the turbine casing is connected to thecasing of the driven machine by girder members, the Whole forming a setframe construction.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved structure in a setof this character, and for a consideration of what I believe to be noveland my invention attention is directed to the accompanying specificationand the claims appended thereto.

In the drzgwing, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a turbine set orinstallation embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an end view taken on line2-2, Fig. 3, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section and withparts broken away.

Referring to the drawing, 5 indicates an elastic fluid turbine and 6 adriven member, for example a generator. The shaft 7 of the turbine issupported in bearings 8 and 9 and carries bucket wheels, as indicated at10. The low pressure end of the turbine is shown as having a conicalshaped casing 11 which is split horizontally and which may terminate atthe last stage wheel. The turbine casing and the casing of the drivenmember 6 are rigidly connected to each other by girder members 12, twosuch members being illustrated. These are preferably formed integralwith the headhaust housing. The surrounding portion 16.

of the exhaust housing is preferably formed in two halves, being splithorizontally at the axis of the turbine shaft, and it is fastened to ita flange 22 gether comprise braced by rods orbars 20 to give it strengthand rigidity. The portion 19 of the ex haust housing is formed as anintegral part of the girder members 12 and is fastened to the portion 16by bolts 21. At its central portion it surrounds the shaft 7 and has onthe packing casing 23. 24 is a supporting foot for the turbine and 25 isa box girder structure for strengthening it. Surrounding the body of theturbine is a casing 26 between which and the turbine casing is packedsuitable heat insulating material 27 It will thus be seen that theexhaust housing is formed as a separate element which is attached to theturbine casing proper and comprises essentially two portions, one whichsurrounds the exhaust end of the turbine casing and is formed in twoparts, and another which forms an end wall and is also formed in twoparts, one integral with each girder member 12. In other Words, theexhaust housing and girder members, to-

four castings. This arrangement has the advantage that the patterns forcasting these four parts are of a relatively simple character and theshape of the castings is such that all the surfaces requiring finishingare readily'accessible and the finishing work can be performed on aboring mill. Furthermore, although the assembled exhaust housing may belarge, the machine work can be performed on a relatively small boringmill.

Since the exhaust housing is a structure separate from the turbineproper and attached thereto, it will be seen that by very simple changesin the location of the sup porting foot on the exhaust housing, theexhaust opening may be made to face in any desired direction. Thestructure is thus adapted to permit of slight changes in the exhausthousing structure at a minimum expense. Also the same exhaust housingpatterns may be adapted for turbines of different size.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I havedescribed the prinmeans.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is;

1. in a turbine driven et, the combination or a turbine casing, a drivenmachine having a casing, girder rnennbers connecting said casings,together, and an exhaust housing comprising a main part which surroundsthe low pressure end of aid turbine casing and is fastened thereto, andan end portion, said end portion being formed of Wall members carried bysaid girder members and fastened to the main portion of the exhausthousing.

2. in a turbine driven set, the combination of a turbine casing, anexhaust housing surrounding the low pressure end of said casing andboited directly thereto, a driven machine having a casing, and girdermembers connecting said casings togethen'an end portion or said exhausthousingbeing formed by Walls which are integral with said girder membersand are fastened to the remainder of the exhaust housing, whereby suchend portion of the exhaust housing may be cast as a part of the girdermem' v here.

3. In elastic fluid turbine, the combination of a turbine casing, anexhaust housing Wail surrounding the same and split axially into twoparts, said Wail Ibeing fastened at one end to the turbine casing at apoint spaced from the low pressure end thereof and open at the otherend, and a Wail which surrounds the turbine shaft and ifOlTi'lS aclosure for said open end.

1-. In a turbine driven set, the combination of a turbine having acasing, a driven machine having a casing, girder members connecting saidcasings, a wall which is split axiaiiy and surrounds the low pressureend of the turbine casing to form an exhaust chamber, said Wail beingfastened to the turbine casing at one end and being open at the otherend, and Walls carried by said girder members which close said open end.

In Witness whereof, "I have hereunto set 1st day of February, 1918.LLIAIa i J. A, LQNDUN.

